We have developed a novel class of colloidal particles capable of shape and size recognition as well as specific binding to the target cells. These colloid particles were fabricated using a nanoimprinting technology which yields inorganic imprints of the chosen target microorganisms. The products of the templating process are partially fragmented inorganic shells which can selectively bind to their biological counterparts, therefore impairing microbial cell growth, replication and infection. We have named this class of particles, which are capable of selectively recognizing bacterial shape and size, “nanoantibiotics”, which can be further functionalized to kill the target cells. The selective binding is driven by the increased area of contact upon recognition of the cell shape and size between the cells and their matching inorganic shell fragments. Here, we demonstrate the cell recognition and binding action of such particles using two different microbial test organisms.